the war with russia. of �*insulting' president trump. arab leaders meet trump's redevelopment plan. to successfully preserve the sight of young children who were born with a rare genetic condition. those are the headlines — now let's get the latest business news from tadhg. you very much. while the future of the israel—gaza ceasefire

plan to develop what he called a middle eastern riviera, dislocating the people who remain there during the process. much about the effort to rebuild gaza in the aftermath of the war is unclear. the cost will be staggering — estimated to be $53 billion in the first three. gregg carlstrom is the middle east correspondent for the economist. he's in riyadh and earlier i asked him about the likely

real influence when it comes to the palestinians — about an egyptian proposal that has been circulating gaza after the war — and so the egyptian view civil affairs in gaza — it's not clear if they could be convinced to disarm but they would be pushed out of day—to—day governance. in phases — it would start in the south of gaza and sort of work its way towards the north over a period of five to ten years. so that is what they will discuss today, and the idea presented to the full arab league at a meeting

indeed. there are political decisions to be made here. the redevelopment of gaza as a business opportunity. a profit, or will thisjust be a charitable exercise? for reconstruction in gaza, they are going to look at this as a territory that even before the war was deeply impoverished, was almost entirely reliant on foreign aid to survive. i don't think anyone is expecting their contributions i think where there is an expectation of profit

you look at egypt, which borders gaza — it has a big construction sector. it has lots of overcapacity not only in building but related sectors. more cement than it could possibly use. out of reconstruction of gaza. i think not unlike we have seen in turkey over the past few post—war in syria. i think something very similar in egypt today. germany could have a new leader by monday as voters make their choice in a general election this weekend. been leading the polls, with the far—right afd in second spot. economic issues are front and centre in voters�* minds as germany's manufacturing

sector has severely slowed. from labour shortages. i think the immigration, especially the criminality it has made immigration topic number one. assuming the next government is at least led by the cdu,

are they are proposing if they were to take power? taxes, also on energy — to bring down energy prices. power and on the investment side what they would like to do the big question is how to pay for it. and there the christian democrats, as so many other parties, remain pretty vague. stalemate after this election? there definitely is. will it be a two—party coalition, ora

three—party coalition? to add to the complications, the voting regime in germany on sunday evening we could have a situation in which either four or up to eight parties may make it into parliament. to do the maths, it will be very difficult to find coalition anytime soon, so i expect it to come at the end of april, maybe even may. in the meantime, olaf scholz remains as a caretaker? the current government would stay on as a minority government, which also means there would be no decisions made. all the expectations that so many people have investments, this will again be stalled, which also means the german economy would not get out of this current state of stagnation at least

until the summer. towards the milestone of $3,000 an ounce. often seen as a safe—haven asset in times of turbulence, the investor interest is partly triggered by concern about a potential tariff trade war between the us and its partners. there's also a theory that gold itself could be subject into the us before any such in london, where $500 billion

she told about the significance of gold at $3,000 an ounce. five years from around the $2,000 level, but it really started to take off last year. the price last year was up about 25% and this year it is up around 12% so it is quite significant. as you say, there are a number of reasons for that movement — not least tariffs — but prior to that you and right now you have this opportunity whereby the price contract traded in new york. as you say, you have these as you say, you have these people in the bank of england people in the bank of england scrambling around trying to get scrambling around trying to get these gold bars ready these gold bars ready for delivery to new york, for delivery to new york, so it is all a little bit so it is all a little bit archaic. archaic. just to be clear, we are just to be clear, we are talking about a speculative talking about a speculative play here, the idea that play here, the idea that you can buy a gold bar you can buy a gold bar in london today and the futures in london today and the futures market in the us suggests market in the us suggests you will get much more for it you will get much more for it in a week or a month. in a week or a month. so we are putting it

on a plane. absolutely. there's a further quirk. rather than having the right to any bar in the bank of england vault, holders must take delivery of a specific bar. so you can imagine all the staff running around, trying to locate and shifting stacks of thousands of pallets of gold, trying to find the exact ones.

the gold work—out could be the fitness craze! that is lstsst fitness crass! that is the latsst fitnass' crass! that is the business, back to you. thank you. israel says a body handed over by hamas on thursday was not that of shiri bibas — the mother their bodies have their bodies have been identified. prime minister benjamin netanyahu has given been identified. a television address stating that the body of a gazan woman was handed over woman was handed over instead of mrs bibas. instead of mrs bibas. he said israel will act with determination to recover her body and ensure hamas pays her body and ensure hamas pays the full price for breaching the full price for breaching their agreement. their agreement. hamas was due hamas was due to return the remains to return the remains of mrs bibas along with her children, ten—month—old kfir and his four—year—old and his four—year—old brother ariel. they were taken during brother ariel. the october 7th attacks but israel says tests on the body show that it's not hers. the israel defense forces also say the children had been

murdered — hamas says they were killed in an israeli air strike. an israeli air strike. israel accused hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement, and demanded the return of mrs bibas. israel has confirmed that the fourth body returned on thursday was that of veteran peace activist, 0ded lifshitz. | translation: the cruelty of the | hamas monsters knows no bounds. not only did they abduct the father yarden bibas, the young mother shiri, and their two small infants in an unimaginably cynical manner,

i beg we are not hearing from her now. 0ur middle east regional editor sebastian usher has there's also been a statement from a forum representing the hostage families, expressing its sorrow over get in the way of making sure to ensure that that happens still continues. i mean, they are making that — as they have time and time again — their main argument, their main priority, that whatever happens, whatever obstacles suddenly appear in the way of the ceasefire, it mustn't stop the continued release of hostages.

was cancelled yesterday. the trump administration criticised president zelensky for his refusal to strike a deal on access to his the former head of the british armed forces has said the uk and europe must "step up to the plate" to guarantee ukraine's sovereignty. 0ur political correspondent harry farley spoke to me very stark indeed, the former chief of the defence staff saying british armed forces were remarkably hollow that will certainly focus minds in whitehall on those calls, notjust from sir nick carter but from many

democrats today — the party here in the uk the government has promised to set out a path to spend 2.5% out a path to spend 2.5% of the uk's gdp, our overall of the uk's gdp, our overall economy, on defence — economy, on defence — up from 2.3% now. up from 2.3% now. but we don't have any but we don't have any timeline for when that would timeline for when that would happen, they haven't set a date happen, they haven't set a date for when that path would be set for when that path would be set let alone a date for when that 2.5% figure would actually be figure would actually be reached and there are calls for reached and there are calls for them to go much further than them to go much further than 2.596. 2.596. another former military chief saying today that sir keir starmer will be laughed keir starmer will be laughed out of the room when he goes to out of the room when he goes to washington to visit donald washington to visit donald trump next week unless he sets trump next week unless he sets out plans to go much further out plans to go much further than 2.5% — to 3% for example. than 2.5% — to 3% for example. i've been speaking to people in government this morning. there is no indication there is no indication at the moment at the moment from them that they are willing from them that they are willing to go beyond that 2.5% figure, and we should be clear that even increasing defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% — which the government said it would do — that would be an

increase of several billion pounds and would require what the chancellor calls "difficult choices" in other areas. there are no easy trade—offs here. it is a tightrope for the prime minister heading off to washington, having to try and put ukraine's case but also not alienating president trump — who can get cross quite quickly. that's exactly right, the government has been quite wary, not even challenging donald trump but even contradicting him — they have been hesitant to do so. we have seen, though, the government being a little bit more willing to set out its position, particularly when it comes to ukraine, for example. prime minister keir starmer saying in a call with volodymyr zelensky earlier this week that — making the point that he was the democratically elected leader and it was perfectly reasonable

to postpone elections contradicting statements donald trump made matters two hours earlier. a very difficult tightrope for them to walk between not wanting to irritate and frustrate the us president, not least because there are other questions, other issues to discuss when the prime minister goes to washington next week. for example, trade and the us wanting to put tariffs on things like steel and aluminium, that would have an enormous impact on the uk economy. there are wider issues for all that would impact all us, notjust the situation in ukraine. and update now from the vatican in italy. the pope has apparently passed another calm night in hospital. this statement said pope francis had a good night, woke up this morning and had breakfast. you will remember that pope francis is aged 88, he has been in hospitalfor is aged 88, he has been in hospital for about is aged 88, he has been in hospitalfor about a week is aged 88, he has been in hospital for about a week now and has been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. early

in the week the vatican said medical tests and a chest x—ray showed a complex picture. pneumonia in both lungs foot from the updates this morning he is comfortable, has had breakfast and that was the update again yesterday. in the meantime, it is clear he will not be out of hospital very quickly stop he has cancelled an audience scheduled

carefully on the packed deck an audience scheduled manifestation of american military might. china may be catching up, but the us is still unrivalled but they'd also brought us here to showcase american friendship and cooperation with allies — in this case, france and japan. of washington these days. this exercise is a demonstration of our efforts to maintain regional stability and promote a secure

collective security challenges. bringing together some of the largest ships that these the coast of the philippines the coast of the philippines and not that far from china, and not that far from china, is intended to signal the enduring strength of the us—led network of the us—led network of alliances in this region. of alliances in this region. but the way the new administration in washington is ripping up the rule book is ripping up the rule book that's underscored the old that's underscored the old international order raises international order raises serious questions about how much president trump serious questions about how values these alliances. new defense secretary pete hegseth shocked european countries earlier this month countries earlier this month with his blunt warning that with his blunt warning that they could no longer depend they could no longer depend on the us for their security. on the us for their security. yet he had a different message yet he had a different message when he called his counterparts when he called his counterparts in korea and japan — promising to deepen defence

cooperation with them. there is the huge expense of running these floating cities to consider in the age of elon musk and his cost—cutting wrecking ball.

a study published today explains how four children surrounding lack of vision may now be coming into focus. in london have performed groundbreaking treatment on children with a rare form of blindness. jase from america was one of the first children in the world to have the treatment. the first time i think we realised, i was coming home from work, playing with jace at night on the bed, and i looked up at my wife and i asked her — he was herfirst child at the time — and i said to her,

unbeknown to his parents, he could only see light however, a chance meeting eventually led the family to professorjames bainbridge — who, using years of research for answers. in this model, you can see in the back of the eye this is what's affected by the condition. and this is the tissue we're targeting with first flew here to london to be assessed at moorfields eye hospital. they were all born with a rare genetic condition, the first visit was in the middle of covid and surgery ended up getting cancelled when we were here for a couple great 0rmond street hospital for treatment. of the nurses laugh.

copies of a faulty gene — aipli — straight into the retina. into the retinal cells. of sight loss is available on the nhs, this study brings new hope that children with various forms of genetic blindness may soon see the benefits. following their treatment, jace and the three other in size, and navigating the corridors. all have experienced improved vision.

it lends confidence to the the idea that this particular form of gene therapy can be effective for other we had no idea, you know, what the results were going to be, or are going to be for the long—term future, but we've seen some phenomenal results, and for us, better then it's a massive win. more news any time i on a website. there are challenges , ”ifs; . ,. . a . . ,,... ,, ,, 7 ”iforrthei ” 7 w " for the uk 7 mféi'tiie 1“; premised w " for the uk premised as 7 777for7the77uk wag 5; he 7 fo to7e uk premised as he 7 777fo7to7h7ead wag 5; he 7 7 777fi7>7to7h7ead thieh§h7i 5; he 7 prepares to head through washington for a meeting with president trump and stay with us here on bbc thank us here on bbc news. thank you watching. us here an, bbc news. thank yeu watching. goodbye for now. hello. a different to our

weather out there this afternoon, isn't it, compared afttmfififl i=fl1|f’:fivfie’ar’=a*” how we started the with how we started the week. ten pitches on monday for instance in many areas are struggling to a low same 77 7 7 same spot, singlefigureséame spat, come into singleefigtuelsame spat, come into friday this attemoon this atterhooh ihto afternoon, this afternoon into the teens. some spots around east anglia, cambridge area, could hit or 17 degrees. at could hit 16 or 17 degrees. at one air coming from the one air coming away from the mid—atlantic head of these fronts which are weather fronts which are already bringing rain across the west and some strong winds, too, as we start the afternoon 777gusting gusting between a0 and 60 winds gusting between a0 and 60 mass per hour quite widely. maybe a bit more around coasts some western coasts and hills. you can check wind you can check the wind gusts where you are �* by hour on where you are hour by hour on the bbc app. this 7 77777brig7htening brightening across afternoon, brightening across many areas after a wet many western areas after a wet morning although it does in a pretty wet in the north—west of bfgtty she}. “717151? itetehztheee §f77 77 77 with digit? eet ifi�*éfié itetehztheee 11371577 77 77 with some further scotland with some further heavy bursts of rain. under cloud and rain its cloud and rain pushes its way into eastern scotland, inte task?" sea“; as england, inte task?" sefit'a ea. england, yorkshire north—east englandr�*i’arkshire towards the and down towards the south and channel islands but with continuing in east sunshine continuing in east anglia and the south—east. 15, 16, to possible. 15 or 16, maybe 17 to possible. 15 or so along the coast. this

so along the moray coast. this evening, despite the fact we the day like i was dry, finish the day like i was dry. anglia and the south—east east anglia and the seutheeast——— ~ ~ , ~ , , rain east ahatia and the sautheeast——— ~ ~ , ~ , , rain arriving east ahetia aha the seetheeast——— ~ ~ , ~ , , rain arriving and could has rain. arriving and seats! , a . s a s s... all has rain. arriving and seats! , a . s a s s.-- all night for has rain. arriving and seats! , a . s a s s... all night for many. if you last all night for many. if you may be thundery showers the north—west of scotland in the north—west of scotland and a fresh start saturday with this morning. we compared with this morning. we should still be frost—free. early doors on saturday, east early'doors'on saturday. east the early'doors'on saturday, east the still anglia, the south—east, still some outbreaks of rain lingering, it will take while lingering, it will take a while before the cloud clears. elsewhere a sunny start, some elsewhere a sunny start. some ,, e a u- . ,. ”a ., north of showers north of scotland, northern ireland, if you were developing elsewhere but for most the bulk if not all of the mostthe bulkeifnet all of the will be with some sunny day will be dry with some sunny spells, best day of the not 7 not quite as one as weekend. not quite as one as today but i! to 13 degrees, still above where we would expect. if you are still above where we would off pect. if you are still above where we would off to ct. if you are still above where we would off to the f you are still above where we would off to the six u are still above where we would off to the six nations heading off to the six nations matches tomorrow, best of the sunshine will be there in for versus cardiff for wales versus ireland. after a cloudy, maybe cardiff for wales versus irelar start, er a cloudy, maybe cardiff for wales versus irelar start, twickenham, aybe cardiff for wales versus irelar start, twickenham, by )e cardiff for wales versus irelar start, twickenham, by the cardiff for wales versus irela the 't, twickenham, by the cardiff for wales versus irela the match :kenham, by the cardiff for wales versus irela the match :kenham, i:way, should be coming77 the sunshine should be coming out abundantly. it means a �*77n7ig7ht777 7 7 7 �* night to take us into slear night te taei-teusmta r—— night for a time, saturday night for a tinee, , a ,. ,, a . as. willdrop but saturday night for a tinee. , e ,. ,, e — ”a, willdrop but then sunday, the next area of low on sunday, the next area of low pressure spreads in. some

eastern areas could just about stay dry until late in the day, especially and the especially east anglia and the south—east, but elsewhere some wet and windy weather will wetand windy weather wilt it; " across all parts, spread asres's attoarts'. " wet and windy than we prgbably wet and windy than we see through this will see through this afternoon. temperatures, will 7 77hhi;hii7 "antenna; 7 77 7 7w7ill 7still ho7l7d7at77 though, will still hold at around double figures. that spread through and next week seread threudh and neat week. , ~ a little seread threudh and nest seek. , ~ a little bit cooler seread threudh and nest seek. , ,, a little bit cooler but seread threugh and nest seek. , ~ fairlylittle bit cooler but seread threudh and nest seek. , ,, fairly changeable. er but

live from london, this is bbc news. was handed over instead

of shiri bibas, a mother home, along with all of our captives, both the living and the foreign. ——the fallen. we will ensure that hamas pays the full price tensions grow between the us and ukraine over ending the war with russia. there needs to be a deep appreciation for what the american people, the american taxpayer, and what we have done since. to the polls on sunday. the next chancellor. yellow i live just outside

of berlin